Westbrooks Gets Another Shot In Nfl

Westbrooks, a former All-State running back at Pope John Paul II in Boca Raton, went from the loading docks at an Ohio department store to the NFL when he was added to the Dolphins' practice squad on Tuesday.

"This is still like a dream for me, but it's been a long time coming," said the 6-foot-2, 228-pound Westbrooks, who runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. "I feel that I'm not this big, this strong and this fast for no reason. That's why I never gave up on my NFL dream."

After a heralded high school career in which he was named the Sun-Sentinel's 1995 Offensive Player of the Year in Palm Beach, all the top schools recruited Westbrooks before he decided to sign with Ohio State.

But after rushing for 2,968 yards and 41 touchdowns in high school, he was used sparingly by the Buckeyes.

"It was very hard coming from a talented county where you're the man, to not getting any playing time," said Westbrooks, who registered only 60 carries, 170 yards and four touchdowns in 33 games in a four-year career at Ohio State.

Westbrooks, 24, was graduated from Ohio State last summer, then attended the Jacksonville Jaguars' training camp as an undrafted free agent.

Although he did not make the team, Westbrooks never gave up hope of catching on this season or after a planned stint in NFL Europe next year.

Although practice squad players aren't guaranteed a roster spot from week to week, Westbrooks plans to make the best of his new situation.

"He's shown us his skill a little bit in terms of reading the holes and getting through there," Collier said. "So far he's shown us that he's got some skills, and that's kind of what you're looking for when you bring a guy in like this."

CAN MADISON TACKLE?

A month after separating his right shoulder against Indianapolis, cornerback Sam Madison is right back to intercepting passes in practice. But covering receivers isn't expected to be the problem for Madison, who will start Monday against the Colts. The Dolphins aren't too confident about his ability to tackle with a bum shoulder.

"The only thing he hasn't done is make a full-speed collision tackle, and to be quite honest with you, Sam doesn't make many of those anyway," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "He's a veteran enough player, so he knows how to wrap up."

Tough-guy CHAMBERS

Wannstedt has been pleased with the way rookie receiver Chris Chambers has practiced this week despite a strained left hamstring and bruised ribs.

"For a rookie to be practicing through some hurts, that's another part of Chris Chambers that excites me." Wannstedt said. "It shows that he's a tough guy." ...

An American flag flown over Afghanistan during a combat mission will be carried by a member of the Dolphins when the team is introduced Monday. The 391st Fighter Squadron "Bold Tigers" flew the flag in honor of Wannstedt and the Dolphins on an F-15E Strike Eagle. The flag was presented to a group of Dolphins cheerleaders who recently returned from an Armed Forces tour of the Middle East.